Physicians' challenges when working in the prehospital environment - a qualitative study using grounded theory

Area of Science:

• Prehospital Medicine
• Emergency Medical Services
• Physician Education

Background:

• Prehospital medicine is rapidly evolving, necessitating a clear understanding of challenges to improve care and training.
• Identifying physician challenges in prehospital settings is crucial for targeted educational development.
• The study addresses the research question: What challenges do physicians face in prehospital care?

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and understand the challenges encountered by physicians working in the prehospital environment.
• To inform the development of specialized training programs for prehospital physicians.
• To highlight areas for improvement in prehospital medical practice.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing an inductive approach.
• Individual, semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom.
• Analysis based on the Classic Grounded Theory (GT) method.

Main Results:

• Prehospital physician challenges involve a balancing act between individual and organizational factors within an extreme environment.
• Decisions are made with limited information due to prehospital constraints.
• Key themes identified include leadership, environment, emotion management, and organization.

Conclusions:

• Reviewing and adapting physician training for prehospital settings is recommended.
• Training should incorporate elements of organization, environment, leadership, and emotional management.
• Addressing these themes will better prepare physicians for the demands of prehospital care.